The Many Health Benefits of the Aloe Vera Plant

The Many Health Benefits of the Aloe Vera Plant

The Aloe Vera Plant is one of my favourite plants to have around my house. I use it as medicine when someone gets a cut, and also I buy Aloe Vera in large quantities to use as a hair rinse. The Aloe Vera Plant is one of the most versatile and easiest plants to grow as it rarely needs to be watered. The health benefits of Aloe are numerous. I’ll cover just some of those benefits here.

A Remedy For Skin Conditions

If you’ve ever got a sunburn, chances are you may have put Aloe Vera on it. Even if you don’t directly use the gel from an Aloe Vera plant in your house, this plant is used in many sunburn relief over the counter products. Did you know though that Aloe Vera can also help with frostbite, psoriasis and cold sores? The gel from the plant has properties that can cure and soothe many skin irritations and rashes. When Aloe Vera is used on burns it helps to prevent UV-induced suppression so that the damaged skin can heal faster.

As a Hair Rinse

I like using Aloe Vera as a hair rinse. Because it requires more than my houseplants can supply, I buy it by the gallon in the pharmacy/health and beauty section at Walmart. I shampoo my hair as usual and then use the Aloe Vera as a rinse. I usually do not even rinse it out. Though you can if you want to. When left in your hair, the Aloe Vera acts as a serum that keeps your hair shiny looking. An even better use than a hair rinse is to make your own Aloe Vera Shampoo. See below.

Make Your Own Aloe Vera Shampoo

Most store hair shampoos are filled with many chemicals that may be harmful to your health. Take a look at the list of ingredients in your shampoo next time you are in the shower. Most likely you will see long words like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Polysorbates. And then there are the fragrances so that your hair smells nice. These fragrances are often made from toxic substances. Some people believe there is enough evidence to show that prolonged use of some commercial shampoos may cause cancer and other diseases.

Many health-conscious people have switched from commercial shampoo to making their own natural shampoo. Here is a simple recipe for making your own Aloe Vera Shampoo: Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 6 ounces of liquid castile soap, mixing as you stir. Then add 2 tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel. Store your Aloe Vera Shampoo in a container and use just like you would use regular shampoo. To prolong the life of the shampoo, only store a small amount in the shower. Keep the rest in your refrigerator. In the refrigerator, the aloe shampoo will last a couple of weeks.

Dental Benefits

Aloe Vera has properties much like commercial toothpaste to rid your mouth of cavity-causing bacteria and plaque. Aloe contains anthraquinones, which are chemical compounds used in healing pain. These compounds are anti-inflammatory in nature. Aloe Vera toothpaste tends to be less harsh on teeth since it does not contain the abrasive elements found in most commercial kinds of toothpaste. Because of this, it is a great alternative for people who have sensitive teeth and gums.

This miracle plant can also help to cure canker sores that appear inside of the mouth. Without treatment, canker sores typically last somewhere between 7 to 10 days. Studies have shown that Aloe Vera treatment can accelerate the healing of these painful sores.

Grow Your Own Aloe Vera

One of the easiest ways to have a steady supply of fresh Aloe Vera is to grow your own right in your house. I like the Aloe Vera because it is a succulent and therefore only needs to be watered about twice a month. In the winter time, you may need to water it even less than that, during the dormant time. I like that it is always available for when a cut or burn unexpectedly happens.

You can find Aloe Vera plants pretty much anywhere that sells houseplants such as Home Depot, Walmart, and at your local greenhouses. The plant is inexpensive and plentiful throughout the United States.

Final Thoughts

The Aloe Vera plant is truly one of the most amazing plants in the world. It has properties that synthetic materials can’t come close to without the long list of synthetic dangers and side effects. You may even want to grow your own Aloe Vera plant. Some scientists think that there are many more cures to be discovered by using Aloe Vera to treat conditions. If you’ve never tried using Aloe Vera, I hope that this article inspired you to give it a try.

Jordan is the beauty and brains behind Beautifully Alive! She loves eating healthy and trying new recipes.The self-proclaimed Zumba Queen has a passion for beauty products and loves reading new books. She’s always down for a DIY project!